Vending machine with merchandise buffering device

ABSTRACT

A vending machine includes a front plate with an opening, a delivery tray, and a shielding plate rotatably attached to the cabinet. The delivery tray is attached to the front plate and defines an entrance. A first electromagnet, a second electromagnet, and one or more sensors are located on the delivery tray. The sensor(s) is connected to the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet. The sensor(s) detects merchandise dropping into the delivery tray and sends a signal to the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet; when the sensor detects no merchandise in the delivery tray, the shielding is engaged with the first electromagnet to cover the opening; when the sensor detects the merchandise in the delivery tray, the shielding is engaged with the second electromagnet to cover the entrance. A merchandise output method of the vending machine is also provided.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a vending machine with a buffering device for merchandise.

2. Description of Related Art

Vending machines allow customers to buy a lot of merchandise, such as water, potato chips and so on, twenty four hours a day When the customer retrieves the merchandise from the vending machine, the merchandise is pushed from a passage and directly drops into a cabinet. However, merchandise with heavy weight may damage the cabinet when they are dropped into the case. Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a vending machine with a buffering device in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of circled II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, isometric view of the buffering device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of FIG. 1, and the buffering device is located in a first position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of circled V of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4, and the buffering device is located in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one”.

FIGS. 1-3, illustrate a buffering device in accordance with an embodiment.

The buffering device includes a securing member 10, a shaft 20, a shielding plate 30, two resilient members 40, and a plastic member 50. The shielding plate 30 is rotatably secured to the securing member 10 via the shaft 20. In one embodiment, each of the resilient members 40 is a coil spring, and the buffering device can be secured to a delivery tray, such as a cabinet 60, of a vending machine (not shown).

The securing member 10 includes a securing plate 11, a connecting portion 13 connected to the securing plate 11, and a plurality of first securing portions 15 connected to the securing plate 11. A clipping portion 112 and an operating portion 114 are located on the securing plate 11. The clipping portion 112 includes two hooks 1121 and a protrusion 1123 located between the two hooks 1121. In one embodiment, the operating portion 114 is slanted relative to the securing plate 11. A first securing hole 151 is defined in each of the plurality of first securing portion 15.

The shaft 20 includes a head 21, a mounting portion 23 connected to the head 21, and a nut 25 engaged with the mounting portion 23. In one embodiment, a diameter of the head 21 is greater than a diameter of the mounting portion 23 and a diameter of the first securing holes 151. A diameter of the mounting portion 23 is less than diameter of the first securing holes 151.

A plurality of second securing portions 31 extend from an edge of the shielding plate 30. Each of the plurality of second securing portions 31 has the same configuration as each of the plurality of first securing portions 15. A second securing hole 311 is defined in each of the plurality of second securing portions 31. In one embodiment, a diameter of the second securing hole 311 is substantially equal to a diameter of the first securing hole 151.

The cabinet 60 includes a plurality of separated plates 61. A passage 611 is defined in every adjacent two of the plurality of separated plates 61, for a merchandise 70 (see FIG. 6) to extend through. A mounting plate 63 extends from the cabinet 60 and adjacent to an end of the passage 611. Two clipping holes 631 and a positioning slot 633 are defined in the mounting plate 63. The two clipping holes 631 correspond to the two hooks 1121, and the positioning slots 633 corresponds to the protrusion 1123.

FIGS. 4-5, illustrate an assembly view of the buffering device and the cabinet 60 in accordance with an embodiment. In assembly, each of the plurality of second securing portions 31 abuts each of the plurality of first securing portions 15. Each of the plurality of first securing holes 151 is aligned with each of the plurality of second securing holes 311. The mounting portion 23 extends through a first one of the plurality of first securing holes 151 and a first one of the plurality of second securing holes 311. A first one of the two resilient members 40 surrounds on the mounting portion 23. A first end of the first one of the two resilient members 40 abuts the backside of the connecting portion 13, and a second end of the first one of the resilient members 40 abuts the bottom of the shielding plate 30. The mounting portion 23 then extends through a second one of the plurality of first securing holes 151 and a second one of the plurality of second securing holes 311. A second one of the resilient members 40 surrounds on the mounting portion 23. A first end of the second one of the resilient members 40 abuts the backside of the connecting portion 13, and a second end of the second one of the two resilient members 40 abuts the bottom of the shielding plate 30. The mounting portion 23 further extends through a last one of the plurality of first securing holes 151 and a last one of the plurality of second securing holes 311. The nut 25 is engaged with the end of the mounting portion 23, and the shielding plate 30 is rotatably secured to the securing member 10. The plastic member 50 is secured to a top surface of the shielding plate 30 by means.

The buffering device abuts the mounting plate 63. The two hooks 1121 are engaged in the two clipping holes 631, and the protrusion 1123 is received in the positioning slot 633. Thus, the buffering device is secured to the mounting plate 63. In one embodiment, a plurality of buffering devices (only one is shown) are secured to the mounting plate 63 and arranged in a straight line that is substantially parallel to the mounting plate 63. At this point, the shielding plate 30 is substantially perpendicular to the mounting plate 63.

In disassembly, the two hooks 1121 are disengaged from the two clipping holes 631, and the protrusion 1123 is removed from the positioning slot 633. Therefore, the buffering devices are detached from the mounting plate 63.

FIG. 6, illustrates a view of the buffering device and the cabinet 60 in use in accordance with an embodiment. In use, when the merchandise 70 is slid away from the passage 611 and drops to the plastic member 50, the shielding plate 30 is rotated about the shaft 20 by the merchandise 70, and the shielding plate 30 can move downward in a first direction that is slanted relative to the mounting plate 63. Simultaneously, the two resilient members 40 are deformed to push the shielding plate 30 in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. Thus, the speed of the shielding plate 30 moves in the first direction is decreased, and the merchandise 70 can be slowly dropped in a case (not shown).

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device comprising: a shielding plate; a securing member rotatably secured to the shielding plate; and a resilient member located between the shielding plate and the securing member; wherein the shielding plate is rotatable relative to the securing member in a first direction to resiliently deform the resilient member, and when the resilient member the resilient member rebounds, the shielding plate is moved by the resilient member in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the securing member comprises a clipping portion, and the clipping portion is configured to secure to a cabinet.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the securing member comprises a securing plate, the clipping portion comprises two hooks and a protrusion located on the securing plate, and the protrusion is located between the two hooks.
 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a shaft, wherein the securing member comprises a plurality of first securing portions, the shielding plate comprises a plurality of second securing portions, each of the plurality of first securing portions abuts each of the plurality of second securing portions, and the shaft is engaged with the plurality of first securing portions and the plurality of second securing portions, to rotatably secure the shielding plate to the securing member.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the resilient member is located about the shaft, the securing member further comprises a connecting portion connected to the plurality of first securing portions, a first end of the resilient member abuts the connecting portion, and a second end of the resilient member abuts the shielding plate.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the shaft comprises a head, a mounting portion connected to the head, and a nut; the mounting portion is engaged with the plurality of first securing portions and the plurality of second securing portions; and the nut is engaged with the mounting portion, and the nut and the head together prevent the mounting portion from disengaging from the plurality of first securing portions and the plurality of second securing portions.
 7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plastic member, wherein the plastic member is attached to the shielding plate.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is a coil spring.
 9. A vending machine comprising: a cabinet comprising a mounting plate and a plurality of separated plates; a passage defined between every adjacent two separated plates, and the mounting plate located in the passage; and a device attached to the mounting plate, the device comprising: a securing member secured to the mounting plate; a shielding plate rotatably secured to the securing member and substantially perpendicular to the mounting plate; and a resilient member located between the shielding plate and the securing member; wherein the shielding plate is rotatable relative to the securing member in a first direction to resiliently deform the resilient member, and when the resilient member the resilient member rebounds, the shielding plate is moved by the resilient member in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
 10. The vending machine of claim 9, wherein the securing member comprises a securing plate, two hooks are located on the securing plate, the mounting plate defines two clipping holes, and the two hooks are engaged in the two clipping holes.
 11. The vending machine of claim 10, wherein a protrusion, located between the two hooks, is located on the securing plate, and the mounting plate defines a positioning slot to receive the protrusion.
 12. The vending machine of claim 10, wherein an operating portion extends from the securing plate, and the operating portion is slanted relative to the securing plate.
 13. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising a shaft, wherein the securing member comprises a plurality of first securing portions, the shielding plate comprises a plurality of second securing portions, each of the plurality of first securing portions abuts each of the plurality of second securing portions, and the shaft is engaged with the plurality of first securing portions and the plurality of second securing portions, to rotatably secure the shielding plate to the securing member.
 14. The vending machine of claim 13, wherein the resilient member is located about the shaft, the securing member further comprising a connecting portion connected to the plurality of first securing portions, a first end of the resilient member abuts the connecting portion, and a second end of the resilient member abuts the shielding plate.
 15. The vending machine of claim 14, wherein the shaft comprises a head, a mounting portion connected to the head, and a nut; the mounting portion is engaged with the plurality of first securing portions and the plurality of second securing portions; and the nut is engaged with the mounting portion, and the nut and the head together prevent the mounting portion from disengaging from the plurality of first securing portions and the plurality of second securing portions.
 16. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising a plastic member, wherein the plastic member is attached to the shielding plate. 